Harry Redknapp says Tottenham have wasted money on “average players” and need a big change across the squad. He also thinks Roberto De Zerbi can still push them back into the top six next season, which is a far more optimistic forecast than his view of where the club are right now.

Redknapp's verdict on Tottenham's recruitment

Redknapp did not dress it up. Speaking to goal.com, he said Spurs had spent “60 million here, 50 million there, 70 million there” on players who had not performed. He added that he did not even know who “half of them are” and described the recent recruitment as poor.

That criticism lands because the league results have been hard to ignore. Tottenham finished 17th in the Premier League last season, and the club had also finished 17th for the two seasons Redknapp was referring to. They scored only 48 league goals and won 10 matches, which is not the profile of a side that only needs a light refresh.

Redknapp also said Tottenham were “so lucky not to go down this year” and pointed to the 2-1 win at Aston Villa as the result that “really kept them up”. That is his read of the survival story, and it fits with the broader point he was making: the problem is bigger than one bad run or one indifferent manager.

Why he still expects Roberto De Zerbi to lift them

The striking part of Redknapp's view is that he still sees room for a quick jump if the right coach is backed properly. He said he likes what he sees of Roberto De Zerbi, believes he will not accept what has gone on over the last two years, and thinks he will “push them and change them”.

That is the more generous part of the assessment, and it is not hard to see why he draws that line. The squad has not delivered enough, but the fix he is describing is structural rather than cosmetic. If the recruitment improves, Redknapp thinks De Zerbi can bring in players who fit better and move Tottenham back into the top six.

The opinion is bold, but not ridiculous. It is also clearly a prediction rather than a guarantee. Redknapp's own evidence points to a club that has been underperforming badly, and his faith in De Zerbi depends on the sort of squad overhaul Tottenham have so far not managed properly. The top-six call is the optimistic part; the recruitment warning is the part that feels harder to dismiss.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 6 outlets. How we work →